Academics, sport & culture
Across academics, sport and culture, boys at St Benedict’s experience a galvanising combination of tradition and innovation.
Academic curriculum in the Preparatory School
The Preparatory School adopted the “ACTIVE” curriculum and refined it to the ACTIVEe programme. It has changed the role of teachers from the traditional front and centre of the class, to facilitator and guide. The boys are encouraged to take ownership and responsibility for their own learning in spaces that are flexible, open and safe. The “ACTIVE” curriculum encourages boys to become critical in their thinking and to develop the 21st century skills needed for success.
Subjects
Reporting
A two reporting system is followed. Reports are released digitally via the ADAM database at the end of each semester. A settling report is shared with parents just before half term of term one and parents are also invited to a “Meet and Greet” at around the same time. Parents are always welcome to set up times to meet with teachers at any stage prior to or after that particular afternoon.
Academic resources
The Preparatory School provides your son with all the resources to equip him for success; from a state of the art computer laboratory, to a modern, fresh and inviting library, to online collaboration for homework and assignments. Extra lessons are also offered as part of the afternoon programme at no extra cost to parents.
Library
Our Prep School library is an inviting and welcoming multi-purpose space in which boys are able to access different resources for research and study purposes.
Problem-based learning
In the Preparatory School, we encourage Problem Based Learning and the boys participate regularly in STEAM week and Outdoor Classroom Day.
Text books and stationery
Textbooks and stationery are for our parents’ own account. At the end of each year textbooks and stationery use is revised by academic staff. Lists of requirements are sent to parents before the end of the academic year in order for parents to purchase. Recommended stockists are used to ensure that the correct requirements are purchased.
Google Classroom
Google Classroom allows staff to make contact with boys regarding various activities, homework tasks and assignments. In the younger grades, parents are invited as guardians enabling them to remain up to date with their son’s activities. As the boys move through the grades they are encouraged to work independently on Google Classroom, submitting tasks and assignments directly to their subject teacher. Google Classroom has become an added necessity enabling successful online teaching and learning.
Assessment in the Preparatory School is continuous. This implies that the semester’s assessment comprises both class work and formal testing in the form of class tests, presentations, structured formal assessments and exam type assessments. Formal exams as a means of assessment are introduced at the end of semester one in Grade 6.
Sport in the Preparatory School
The sport programme in the Preparatory School is compulsory to ensure that our boys gain the benefits of participating in sports fixtures. These benefits include developing time management skills, enhancing social interaction, promoting goal setting, facilitating problem solving and teaching a sense of brotherhood and community by representing your school. Grade 3s are included in the Preparatory School sport programme to expose the boys to as many different sporting codes and crucial growth opportunities.
Sports offered in the Preparatory School
Sports offered at St Benedict’s
- Athletics
- Basketball
- Cross country
- Golf
- Hockey
- Rowing
- Rugby
- Soccer
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Waterpolo
Sports offered in the Preparatory School
Sports offered at St Benedict’s
- Athletics
- Basketball
- Cross country
- Golf
- Hockey
- Rowing
- Rugby
- Soccer
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Waterpolo
Culture in the
Preparatory School
The aim of the cultural programme is to enable the boys to develop their creativity through cultural activities. This in turn contributes to the overall development of a well rounded boy.
